The actual dress was black and blue. The confusion came from how lighting and color perception tricked people's brains, making some see it as white and gold. It became a viral example Why Did We See The Dress Differently? The Answer Lies in the Shadows, Neuroscience Research Finds Optical illusion: Dress colour debate goes global BBC News Ten years ago, a photo of a dress posted on Tumblr sparked a massive debate: was it blue and black or white and gold? Millions argued online, and even celebrities joined in. Scientists later explained Why Did We See The Dress Differently? The Answer Lies in the Shadows, Neuroscience Research Finds